Fight leaves man seriously injured

Monday

May 6, 2013 at 3:57 PMMay 6, 2013 at 3:59 PM

Following a fight incident that occurred on April 25, a Phillips County man was airlifted to The Med in Memphis for emergency medical treatment as two men faced first-degree battery charges according to the Phillips County Sheriff's Department.

Randy Hogan

Following a fight incident that occurred on April 25, a Phillips County man was airlifted to The Med in Memphis for emergency medical treatment as two men faced first-degree battery charges according to the Phillips County Sheriff's Department.
When Deputy Bennie Phillips arrived at the scene of the incident on Phillips County Road 215, he found Thomas Harper lying on the back porch of the residence. Kimberly Howell was observed holding a towel on Harper's head. The towel was soaked in blood.
Pafford Ambulance EMTs were dispatched to the scene and transported Harper to the Helena Regional Medical Center emergency room. From there, he was transported to the Trauma Center in Memphis to be treated for a severe and large cut to the head.
Phillips obtained statements from Howell and Linda Mangold, who were both reportedly present when the fight occurred. Mangold reported that Monty Mooney and Josh Turner came to her residence and began arguing with Harper. Mooney allegedly pulled Harper over a fence and they began to physically fight.
Mangold told Phillips that Turner got a black flashlight out of the truck from which they arrived. Turner reportedly struck Harper in the head twice with the flashlight. The second time Turner struck Harper, Mangold said she saw blood shoot out of Harper's head just before he collapsed.
According to Mangold, the pair got into the truck and drove off taking the flashlight with them.
Chief Investigator Brian Holloway was at the emergency room as Pafford paramedics prepared Thomas to be flown to Memphis. Holloway reported that Harper was going in and out of consciousness as the result of a severe loss of blood. Holloway said he noticed bone fragments or brain matter coming from the head wound.
Mooney and Turner's bonds were set at $75,000.
At this time, there are no reports concerning Harper's condition.